Make me an offer: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Make me an offer: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Make me an offer is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Blomberg, Con.
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Make Me an Offer" by Con Blomberg is a science fiction short story that was published in the late 1950s. The narrative presents a satirical take on urban management and the consequences of technological overreach, depicting a future where city planning and resource allocation are controlled by a highly advanced computer system known as the Civic Machine. The story explores themes of individuality, societal needs, and the conflicts that arise when human desires clash with automated decision-making. In the story, the protagonist, Ross Ro, a city manager, faces public opposition when he proposes to cover Central Park with a permanent artificial roof, believing it will enhance its appeal. However, a local activist, Mrs. Hatty Dakkon, rallies the women of the city against the project, emphasizing the importance of natural weather experiences for children. As Ro tries to control the public's demand through the Civic Machine, he inadvertently triggers an overwhelming order for gelatin molds due to a coordinated campaign by Dakkon and her supporters. In a frantic attempt to avoid financial disaster from the machine's automated supply chain, Ro ultimately abandons the roof project, illustrating the unpredictable nature of collective human behavior in the face of technological systems. The story delivers a humorous yet cautionary message about the reliance on technology and the importance of listening to community voices.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Make me an offer
- Author credits: Blomberg, Con
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- City managers -- Fiction
- New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction
- Protest movements -- Fiction
- Science fiction
- Short stories
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Humour
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
- Category: Short Stories
- Science Fiction
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Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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